Solihull

Solihull's population increased by about 7,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 200,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Solihull increased by 3.6%, from almost 200,000 to 207,000.

The addition of just under 7,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Solihull was home to, on average, 8.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Solihull

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Solihull increased by two years, from 40 to 42 years.

This area had a higher average age than the West Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 5,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 6,000.

About 12.0% of people in Solihull are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Solihull by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Solihull

Solihull saw the West Midlands' third-largest fall in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 9 in 10 (88.3%) in Solihull reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities, compared with 89.5% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.0% to 3.9%.

Across the region, only Herefordshire (from 90.0% to 88.7%) and Malvern Hills (from 88.6% to 87.4%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Solihull

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Solihull was among those who said they had no religion, rising 9.3 points.

In 2011, 21.4% of respondents in Solihull gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 12.1% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 12.3% to 22.0%, while across England the percentage went from 14.5% to 24.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Solihull, 65.6% said they were Christian, compared with 78.2% in 2001. About 1.7% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.8% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 6.7% to 6.4%.

In Solihull, 6.4% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.7% in 2001. In West Midlands, 6.6% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

the population without a religion in Solihull increased by 9.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, West Midlands and Solihull by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Solihull that rented privately increased from 4.2% to 9.9% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14.9%) households lived in social housing, compared with 16.1% in 2001. The percentage of Solihull households that owned their home decreased from 78.2% to 73.9%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.2% in 2001 to 14.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Solihull increased by 5.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Solihull, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

The percentage of adults in Solihull that were married decreased from 57.3% to 51.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30.1%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 25.2% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Solihull that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.1% to 10.4%.

The proportion of married people fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 52.4% in 2001 to 47.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Solihull

In 2011, 6.6% of Solihull residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 2.9% in 2001.

Across the West Midlands, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 7.6% to 10.8%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 89.2% of people in Solihull said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 94.6% in 2001. About 2.1% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 1.3% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 1.0% to 1.6%.

the population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Solihull increased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Solihull by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Solihull residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.0% to 5.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81.7%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 70.9% in 2001. The percentage of Solihull residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21.1% to 13.1%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Solihull decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Solihull, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

The percentage of one-person households increased in Solihull at a faster rate than across the West Midlands.

In Solihull, the proportion of one-person households increased from 26.3% in 2001 to 29.2% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 28.8% to 29.5%.

Across the West Midlands, the share of one-person households increased from 28.8% to 29.5%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Solihull increased from 6.8% to 7.8%, while the percentage of households with a married couple decreased from 42.3% to 36.8%.

The percentage of households with only one person was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Solihull working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12.9% to 10.2% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 12.5% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Solihull decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Solihull, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Solihull residents that were unemployed increased from 3.0% to 4.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (54.5%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 55.5% in 2001. The percentage of Solihull residents that were self-employed increased from 8.0% to 9.2%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 3.8% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Solihull increased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Solihull, the West Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Solihull with only adult children living with their parents increased from 11.1% to 11.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (30.2%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 31.5% in 2001. The percentage of households in Solihull without children increased from 57.4% to 58.3%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 10.3% in 2001 to 10.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Solihull residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.9%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Solihull remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Solihull by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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